Positive- and negative-limited lead-acid cells with conventional and polyaniline (PANI)-coated negative plates were assembled and tested at varying discharge rates. The cells with PANI-coated negative plates exhibit lower impedance in relation to conventional cells and sustain higher discharge-rates with lesser loss in capacity during prolonged charge-discharge cycling as compared to conventional cells. It is suggested that PANI-coated negative plates are beneficial in designing lead-acid batteries operating at partial-state-of-charge. © Springer 2006.